30 The Pheasant in History. 



dined on a pheasant, and enjoyed it, as it would seem from 

 the remark of one of his monks, that ' he dined more heartily 

 and cheerfully that day than usual.' " 



Those who are interested in the subject will find a most 

 interesting series of extracts respecting the mediaeval history 

 of this bird in Mr. Harting's " Ornithology of Shakespeare," 

 from which we quote the following : 



" Leland, in his account of the feast given at the inthronisa- 

 tion of George Nevell, Archbishop of York, in the reign of 

 Edward IV., tells us that, amongst other good things, two 

 hundred ' fesauntes ' were provided for the guests. 



" In the ' Privy Purse Expenses of Elizabeth of York,' 

 under date ' the xiiij'^ day of Novembre,' the following entry 

 occurs : 



"'Itiiii. The same day to Richard Mylner of 

 Byndf eld for bringing a present of fesauntes 

 cokkes to the Queen to Westminstsr ... v3 " 



" In the ' Household Book ' of Henry Percy, fifth Earl 

 of Northumberland, which was commenced in 1512, the 

 pheasant is thus referred to : 



" ' Item, rESAUN"TES to be had for my Lordes own Mees at 

 Principall Peestes and to be at xijd. a pece. 



" ' Item, Fessauntis for my Lordes owne Meas to be hadde at 

 Prinoipalle Feistis and to be xijd. a pece.' * 



* " As a copy of the ' Northumberland Household Book ' is not readily 

 accessible, we give the following interesting extract, showing the price, at 

 that date, of various birds for the table : 



' Capons at iid. a pece leyn (lean). Pettryges at iid. a pece. 



Chickeyns at -|-d. a pece. Redeshanks ijd. 



Hennys at iid. a pece. Bytters {i.e. Bitterns) xiid. 



Swannys (no price stated). Fesauntes xiid. 



Geysse iiid. or iiiid. at the moste. Reys {i.e. RufEs and Reeves) iid. a 



Pluvers id. or ijd. at moste. pece. 



Cranys xvid. a pece. Sholardes (Spoonbills) viid. a pece. 



Hearonsewys {i.e. Heronshaws or Kyrlewes xiid. a pece. 

 Herons) xiid. a pece. Pacokes xiid. a pece. 



MaUardes iid. a pece. Sea Pyes (no price). 



Woodookes id. or ijd. at the Wigions at ijd. the peoe. 

 moste. Knottes id. a pece. 



